u/GalaxyBreeze111

Hi all. I’ve had problems finding a bra size ever since I’ve needed to wear one, and finally gave the bra calculator a go. I’ve spent my teens and early adult years in ill fitting 32DD Victorias Secret bras, and finally wanted to get a bra that fits properly. I’m also in the UK using uk sizing for context.

I did all the measurements without a bra as directed, and was given a 30C/D or a 28D/DD. Now I admit I got a bit cocky and couldn’t believe I would be less than a D cup, and I wasn’t sure I’d even get into a 28 band because I tried a 30 before and it was really tight. My boobs aren’t massive, but they go out to the sides when I’m not wearing a bra, so when I scoop them up there’s more volume to them. Also, one of them is smaller than the other by at least a cup, I’d say. I also saw on the calculator that if you have any body differences to ask for advice, and I actually have scoliosis, which makes wearing a bra even worse, without struggling for sizes. My ribs are uneven and one sticks out at the back.

Anyway I bought 4 bra sizing options, all strapless multi-way bras from next as that’s what I was needing at this time. 30DD, 30E, 32D and 32DD. I couldn’t even get the 30 band closed on the loosest hook. I know a bra band is meant to be tight, but I couldn’t breathe and that’s not an exaggeration. The 32 band was slightly more lenient, but both cup sizes had a lot of gaping, so I hold my hands up and admit I probably should’ve tried the C, but I don’t think that style of bra was right for me anyway as it didn’t feel comfortable, and I couldn’t get it to sit properly (again, scoliosis contributes to a lot of that). If I couldn’t even get a 30DD around my body, how am I supposed to be a 28DD?

Currently I wear a wireless padded t shirt bra from Lounge, in a size S+, because it was the only bra I could find that didn’t have actually bra sizing. I really want to get an actual underwired bra that fits correctly, but everywhere gives a different size, the bra calculator wasn’t accurate for me, and I don’t know what else to do, because I can’t keep spending on and returning bras until I find something that fits. Does anyone have any recommendations of what I can do? I will share my measurements if necessary, but honestly there wasn’t much between each, and I measured myself 3 times to make sure I was doing it correctly and got the same measurements each time. Also will share what issues I had with previous bras if needed to help with fitting. Thanks much in advance.

I know that sounds dumb, but I can’t figure out which of my hips is the higher one. I have severe s-curve scoliosis with a left thoracic, right lumbar curve (you read that right, my curve is the opposite way), which causes me to have a left rib hump and my lower right waist protrudes out to the side.

What confuses me is, I read that usually on scoliosis your higher hip is on the same side as your thoracic curve, but my right leg is longer which is my lumbar curve side. However, when I lie down my legs sort of even out. When I sit down, I think my left hip comes forward because my left knee pushes out more. It’s very confusing to me, but I’m trying to learn my curve pattern so I can start practicing yoga safely.

A few other things to note, I’m not fused, my right shoulder is lower than my left, my right rib sticks out at the front and my left sticks out in the back, and if I could access professional help I would. Oh and also I have a pretty large dip in my left hip, I do have one on my right but I think the left is deeper. This is worse when I’m stood or lying down.

Whenever I record using the back camera, the microphone makes this awful sound that ruins videos. Best way I can explain it is it’s kind of like recording with a waterfall or wind in the background. I know it’s the rear mic because it never happens on the front camera, and voice memos are fine. What bothers me more though is the noise isn’t there when I record in an app (like insta for example), it’s only on the actual iPhone camera app. I’ve tried cleaning it with blue tack but it didn’t help, I even tried cleaning the other mics with it as well just in case there was interference, I’ve turned my phone on and off, it’s been updated many times since it started happening so that’s not the cause, and I’ve tried switching from stereo to mono which I thought worked but then every few seconds the noise comes and goes. So is there anything else I can do or is my rear mic just screwed?

iPhone 14

Whenever I record using the back camera, the microphone makes this awful sound that ruins videos. Best way I can explain it is it’s kind of like recording with a waterfall or wind in the background. I know it’s the rear mic because it never happens on the front camera, and voice memos are fine. What bothers me more though is the noise isn’t there when I record in an app (like insta for example), it’s only on the actual iPhone camera app. I’ve tried cleaning it with blue tack but it didn’t help, I even tried cleaning the other mics with it as well just in case there was interference, I’ve turned my phone on and off, it’s been updated many times since it started happening so that’s not the cause, and I’ve tried switching from stereo to mono which I thought worked but then every few seconds the noise comes and goes. So is there anything else I can do or is my rear mic just screwed?

But specifically after any excess physical activity? I’ve recently got into exercising (nothing major, just some dumbbell workouts and yoga specifically for scoliosis) to try to help my curve. I have pretty severe scoliosis but I think a lack of exercise and muscle has contributed to its severity, so I’m trying to build up some strength and hopefully balance my muscles out a bit. The problem is, after working out I sometimes notice numbness in my back and ribs. I don’t know if it’s because the muscles are not used to being worked/ stretched so it brings some kind of alertness to them, or if I should be concerned. I’ve always had some degree of tingling in my left rib, usually when I’m trying to sleep and roll into a bad position, but I’m concerned because it’s now into different areas. I’d try to see a doctor but honestly health care in my country is not great right now, so I’d probably not get any serious help anyway. I don’t wanna cause myself any severe nerve damage or anything, but I also want to continue working out because I’m seeing progress and my scoliosis is bad enough, I’m trying to prevent it getting super worse as I age. Anyone else ever experience this numbness or should I stop what I’m doing?

Also a few things to add, I have S curve scoliosis, and I cannot get surgery because of pre existing health conditions that makes it too risky to do. So surgery isn’t an option for me sadly, otherwise I’d have had it done a long time ago believe me. Exercise/ yoga is basically the only thing I can do.

I’ve struggled a lot with breath support because everything I read always talks about how you’re supposed to expand the stomach and ribs, and keep that expansion whilst you sing, but I can’t do that. As soon as I start singing the air is emptied really quick, no matter how much I try to expand, breathe in, keep hold of the air, I cannot maintain that expansion without my notes falling flat. People talk about how you need to engage your diaphragm, but I don’t feel like I’m engaging anything when I expand my ribs and stomach.

However I’ve discovered that when I sing in a way that feels like I’m breathing upwards, I have a better support of my breathing. I don’t know exactly how to describe it, but it’s kinda like in yoga when you draw your navel in, like I can feel my core area engage and it helps me support my breathing. I’ve seen some people say to sing from your ass, and I’ve never quite understood that either, but when I’m engaging with my core it sort of feels like I’m breathing in through my butt. Honestly I have no better way to explain how what I feel other than it’s like I’m breathing upwards through my butt and my ab/ mid back area feels sort of tense, but not tight or clenched. I don’t know if this is a form of breath support or if I’m actually doing something that’s going to be an issue in the long run, so I just want some advice. Is it ok to continue to sing this way, or is it better to really try to learn to sing with the expansion? No matter how many tutorials I watch and warm ups I do, I just can’t do it that way.

I recently bought an external usb mic to record some vocal covers etc. I bought a usb to lightning cable so I could connect it to my devices (iPad and iPhone), but it won’t work on my phone. It works perfectly fine on my iPad (6 gen, iOs 17.7) when plugged into garage band AND the built in camera app. However, it’s not recognised on any apps on my phone. I don’t use GarageBand on there, but it doesn’t work on the camera app or any social media apps, it just uses my actual phone mic to record audio (and my mic isn’t great, hence why I bought an external one). I guess it works on my iPad but not phone for the difference in iOS, but it’s annoying, I thought it would at least work on social media apps so I could record my videos on there and just save them, but apparently not. Is there a solution to this or are iPhones no longer compatible with external usb mics? I’m on iPhone 14 iOS 26.4 if that’s any help

I recently bought an external usb mic to record some vocal covers etc. I bought a usb to lightning cable so I could connect it to my devices (iPad and iPhone), but it won’t work on my phone. It works perfectly fine on my iPad (6 gen, iOs 17.7) when plugged into garage band AND the built in camera app. However, it’s not recognised on any apps on my phone. I don’t use GarageBand on there, but it doesn’t work on the camera app or any social media apps, it just uses my actual phone mic to record audio (and my mic isn’t great, hence why I bought an external one). I guess it works on my iPad but not phone for the difference in iOS, but it’s annoying, I thought it would at least work on social media apps so I could record my videos on there and just save them, but apparently not. Is there a solution to this or are iPhones no longer compatible with external usb mics? I’m on iPhone 14 iOS 26.4 if that’s any help

I was wondering if anyone has any advice that could help me. Basically when I sing certain words, it feels like my throat gets stuck. Or that the word gets stuck somewhere between the back of my mouth and nose. I can’t push the word out smoothly, so it sounds like my voice has cracked, but then I can often sing the rest of the sentence just fine. I don’t know how to stop it happening, but it’s like certain words make my throat tighten up and I can’t push them out properly, whereas others are absolutely fine. I am currently waiting on professional lessons, but in the meantime I still want to sing and figure out how to make it sound less flat or tense or whatever’s going on. Thanks.